New Release Tuesday 1.25.11

Mike Leake 2 Comments

One of the passions that I have that I rarely write about on this blog is music.  I hope to change that.  As an experiment I’ll be featuring different genres (never country) on different days and suggesting 5 titles for you to purchase. 

Today is Tuesday.  New Releases come out on Tuesday, so check out these Top 5 New Releases:

If you like folk, bluesy, type of stuff you will absolutely love this offering by Amos Lee.  If you like Ray Lamontagne this album is very similar to the stuff that he does.

The Cold War Kids are a mix between the Kings of Leon and the Black Keys. 

I’m new to listening to Luminate.  Those of you that listen to Christian music on the radio may be familiar with their hit “Come Home”.  The lead singer reminds me a little of John Mark McMillen.  Good stuff. 

Samuel Beam has an amazing beard.  This CD is only 6.99.  Enough said.

 

Some of you may like the Get Up Kids.  If you do, then you are unluck—you can download this entire CD for only 3.99 today.

Michael Vick, Dogs, and the Imago Dei

Mike Leake

This is ridiculous on a few levels:

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First, it’s ridiculous because it is a huge misunderstanding of grace.  Carlson says I believe fervently in second chances…BUT…Vick killed a dog.  There are no second chances for that.  But grace isn’t about the magnitude of the sin—as if God can forgive murder so long as it’s not that of a child.

The truth of the matter is that being a Christian isn’t about second chances.  Being a Christian is about being a new creation.  It’s not a second, third, or 7.4 millioneth chance. 

Secondly, it’s ridiculous because it totally misunderstands the imago Dei.  This goes against the grain of our society, but humans are actually more important than animals.  That’s not to say that we have a free pass to abuse animals—it’s actually quite the opposite.  Our unique status as co-regents with the King of the universe means that we should actively care for creation—not kill it. 

But let’s say that somebody blows his stewardship of creation.  Like Michael Vick.  Rather than caring for creation (cute little puppies) he decides to make a quick buck, have a little “fun”, and engage in dog fighting.  Yep, that’s wrong.  But you don’t shed the blood of a MAN because he shed the blood of a DOG. 

One is created in the image of God, the other is not. 

The last ridiculous thing about this is that I’m prone to having a Tucker Carlson response to sin.  The sin of others and the sin in my own heart.  I can be tempted to treat certain sins as less forgivable.  My unpardonable sin isn’t dog murder—but there are some things that I have a hard time forgiving.  Even things in my own life that I have a hard time receiving grace for. 

I can also forget that our identity, no matter how much we mar it, is still wrapped up in the imago Dei.  No matter how far of a downward spiral, no matter how pale it becomes, people are still people that are unique and made in the image of God.  The fundamental thing about my identity is not a particular sin—it’s that I’m made in the image of God.  And for those of us that are believers we are being renewed (restored) day by day into the image of God. 

That’s why what Tucker Carlson says here is ridiculous.

Today in Blogworld 1.25.11

Mike Leake

The Cure for Bitterness

This is one of the most simple explanations I have read concerning whether God chooses us or we choose God. 

One of Billy Graham’s greatest regrets is that he would have steered clear of politics.  Let’s hope we learn from this wisdom.

Did God condone polygamy in the OT?

Pastors will want to check out this new series by CJ Mahaney on Pastors and Personal Criticism.  Even if you aren’t a pastor it’s worthy of a read.

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(HT: Challies)

Jonathan Parnell from DG interviews Mike Wilkerson on his new book Redemption.  I’ll be receiving and reviewing this book in February.  In one of my classes last semester we had the opportunity to have a phone conference with Wilkerson.  I was immediately sold on much of the way Mars Hill does “soul care” and on Mike’s new book.  I’m excited to receive it from Crossway in a few days.

Was Hosea consciously referring to the Messiah’s flight into Egypt?

I’m also excited about this new book that will be coming out in September from 9Marks:  What is the Mission of the Church?

Great words from Justin Buzzard:  Pastors, Quit Trying to Be Perfect and Let Jesus Love You.

I appreciate this counsel from Brant Hansen to young girls, essentially on choosing a spouse.

I was going to eat lunch at Taco Bell today…not now.

Dr. David Powlison – Does God get upset when we disobey? from CCEF on Vimeo.  (HT: JT)

Review of The Practice of Godliness Study Guide by Jerry Bridges

Mike Leake

A couple years ago I read Jerry Bridges’ The Gospel for Real Life and Transforming Grace.  These two books were phenomenal and caused me to have a great amount of appreciation for Jerry Bridges—but more so a great appreciation of the Jesus he worships.  For that reason I was excited for the opportunity given me by the good folks at NavPress to review Bridges’ new small-group curriculum for The Practice of Godliness.

This curriculum has the complete text of Bridges’ book The Practice of Godliness.  Off to the side, which is really helpful, is a large blank space for notes.  Honestly, I wish more books had wider margins for notes.  I loved this particular part of the resource.  Also, at the end of each chapter there are helpful questions and biblical passages to interact with. 

I was unable to use this book in a small group setting but I did read it for my own personal use and sampled it as a pastor thinking about suggesting this as a resource for a Sunday school class.  That was one of my goals in reviewing this book—to determine whether I should encourage a class at our church to use this material.  I will be suggesting it. 

Bridges has a helpful balance of grace and the believers need to pursue holiness and godliness.  Bridges consistently reminds us that “godliness is no optional luxury for a few quaint Christians of a bygone era” (10).  For Bridges, godliness is devotion in action.  And he labors to show that godliness is more an attitude toward God and not an activity (11). 

Throughout the book Bridges relates various characteristics of the Spirit-filled life to the fear of God, our love for God (and his love for us), and a desire for God.  In the first part of the book Bridges develops the theological foundation for godliness (this is the first three sessions) and then he practically deals with the fruits of the Spirit in the next 8 sessions) and closes up the book by discussing love and painting a picture of the goal of godliness—Christ Himself. 

Often believers do not see how their character formation affects how they relate to God.  It is assumed that theology and godliness are optional and they have no bearing on our relationship with the all-loving Lord.  It is thought, how can my relationship with a God that loves unconditionally be shaped by my practice of godliness?  The two do not seem to go hand in hand.  But Jerry Bridges has once again masterfully shown us that our view of God shapes our character and our character shapes our view of God. 

It may read a little slow at times but it is certainly worthy of the effort.  I’ll be looking for a Sunday school class to take this study up.  I would suggest that you purchase this curriculum for your own personal study as well. 

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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